Shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings



G. E. DATH 2,598,762

SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY DRAFT racemes June 3, 1952 Filed Dec. 10, 1948 WA. {Z Z y.

Patented June 3, 1952 SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY DRAFT RIGGINGS George E. Dath, Mokena, 111., assignor to W. H.

Miner, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application December 10, 1948, Serial N 0. 64,638

3 Claims. (01. 213-40) This invention relates to improvements in shock absorbing mechanisms especially adapted for railway draft riggings, and more particularly to means for holdingthe parts of such a mechanism assembled.

One object of the invention is to provide a shock absorbing mechanism comprising a casing closed at one end and open at the other end, a compressible cushioning unit within the casing, and a pressure transmitting member adapted to receive the actuating force and transmit it to the cushioning unit, wherein simple and efiicient means is provided in the form of stops associated with the casing and engageable by the pressure transmitting member to limit outward movement of the same and hold the mechanism assembled.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevational view of my improved shock absorbing mechanism. Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view, broken away, corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a broken, longitudinal, horizontal sectional view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, corresponding substantially to the line 33 of Figure 2.

As illustrated in the drawing, my improved shock absorbing mechanism comprises broadly a casing A, a pressure transmitting plunger B, a cushioning unit C, and stop bars DD fixed to the casing for limiting outward movement of the pressure transmitting plunger and holding the mechanism assembled.

The casing A is in the form of a tubular member of rectangular, transverse cross section, having horizontally disposed, top and bottom walls I and H, vertically disposed side walls I2l2, and a transverse vertical end wall I3. The casing A is closed at its rear end by the Wall l3 and is open at the front end. The side walls l2-l2 are provided with transversely aligned, square openings |4-I4 and l4|4 therethrough, adjacent the top and bottom of the casing and spaced inwardly from the open end of the latter, said openings being adapted to receive the stop bars The pressure transmitting plunger B is in the form of a casting having top and bottom, vertically disposed, transversely extending, projecting flanges l6-I6- at its inner end disposed in back of the stop bars DD and engageable with the latter to limit outward movement of the plunger.

The plunger B projects outwardly of the casing and is' adapted to receive the actuating force.

The cushioning unit C is arranged within the casing A and is interposed between the plunger B and the closed rear end of the casing. The cushioning unit illustrated is of well-known design and comprises a series of rubber mats ll-ll alternated with metal spacing plates I8-l8.

In assembling the mechanism, the cushioning unit C is placed within the casing before the stop bars DD are applied to the same. After the cushioning unit has been placed within the casing, the plunger B is pushed into the open end of the former and the mechanism slightly compressed to bring the flanges l 6-! 6 of the plunger in back of the openings I l-14 and l4l4 of the opposed walls I2-l2 of the casing. While the mechanism is held in this partly compressed condition, the bars D--D are placed in position through the openings l4l4 and l4-l4 and welded in place. The mechanism is then permitted to expand to engage the flanges l6--|6 of the plunger B with the stop bars.

My improved shock'absorbing mechanism is particularly adapted for use in connection with railway draft riggings to absorb the draft and bufling shocks, being interposed between the usual front and rear follower members of the draft riggmg.

The operation of the improved mechanism is as follows: Upon relative movement of the followers of the draft rigging toward each other, the mech-- anism is compressed therebetween, forcing the plunger B inwardly of the casing A and compressing the cushioning unit C. When the actuating pressure is reduced, the parts are returned to the normal position shown in Figure 3 by the expansive action of the cushioning unit 0, outward movement of the plunger B being positively limited by engagement of the flanges l 6l6 thereof with the stop bars DD.

I claim:

1. In a shock absorber, the combination with a casing having lengthwise extending, top and bottom walls and opposed, lengthwise extending side walls, said casing being open at one end, said side walls having top and bottom sets of transversely aligned openings therethrough, adjacent saidopen end of the casing; of a cushioning unit within the casing; a pressure transmitting plunger slidingly telescoped within the open end of the casing and-engaging said cushioning unit;

transversely disposed, top and bottom stop bars fixed to said casing, each bar having its opposite ends seated: in thecmesponding set of openings of said sidewalls ofthe casing; and-laterally outwardly projecting flanges on opposite sides of said plunger at the inner end thereof engageable with said stop bars to limit outward movement. of said plunger. r

2. In a shock absorber, the combination with'a casing open at one end andihaving; a; pair oi on posed, laterally spaced walls extending lengthwise thereof, and a second pair of laterally spaced, 0p-

being adiacent: one ofsaid; second named walls;

of as pressure transmittmg plunger slidingly telescopsdm-ithimthe-casiflgi. artransversely-disposed,

fixedstop bar a ds acent; each; of said second. named walls and having'its opposite ends seated in the openings. oi the corresponding; set of said first: named walls; laterally projecting flanges. on op:-

posite sides ofisaid plunger atthe inner en'cl. there at engaged in back' oi said stop hairs; respectively; and'acnshioning' unit within said casing. on which said pressure transmitting plunger, bears.

3. In a shock absorber, the combination with a casing having a pair of opposed, laterally spaced walls extending lengthwise thereof, and a second pair of laterally spaced, opposed walls connecting said first named walls; of a pressure transmitting plunger slidingly telescoped within the casing; a pair of transversely disposed stop within said casing: said bars of'saidpai-r being located at opposite sides of said plunger, one of said stop hairs being welded to one of the walls of said secondinamed pair and the other of said stop bars being, Welded. to the other wall of said second named pair; laterally projecting flanges on said transverse plungerat the inner end thereof engages in baekiof stop bars respectively; and a cushioning unit within said casing on which said pressure transmitting plunger bears.

GEORGE E. DATH.

REFERENCES: GITEH V The following: references are of record the file of this patent:-

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

